- This Week's Blog
- The Sales Challenge Blog Archives
- by Bill Farquharson
The Sales Challenge Blog
New blog articles by Bill Farquharson released every Tuesday. Search by topic below or read this week’s blog now.
What Changes When You Succeed
The good news is, you’ve hit your goals. The bad news is, what comes next. In this week’s blog, Bill Farquharson shares two downsides to success and why they need to be avoided.
Howard Gets Rejected
A salesman is told he needs to make 50 cold calls a day. Day after day, the man drives to an office building, takes the elevator to the top, and knocks on every door he sees. That’s a lot of rejection. The year is 1979. Today, that former salesman is worth $5.7 billion. Find out why he credits his cold calling days and the hope it gives the rest of us.
One Reason for Poor Sales
If you have a gym membership but don’t go, it is easy to understand why you are not in shape. But what about your sales volume? Can this same thinking be applied? Read Bill Farquharson’s blog and find out.
I No Longer Can’t
Bill Farquharson was asked to memorize 7 different patterns of 18 notes in a specific order spread out over 6 guitar strings. You are being asked to open new accounts. Both of you think, “I can’t.” Read Bill’s blog and find out how to change your thinking.
“And Then, My Head Exploded”
Searching for a printer in Texas, Bill Farquharson came close to insanity when he saw the results. Take his advice regarding this simple, controllable task, and you might just prevent that from happening.
A Crazy Idea For Hiring a Great Sales Rep
Everyone knows rejection is a part of sales. One guy has an interesting method for finding out if a rep can overcome an important objection: Rejection during the interview. Read more in Bill Farquharson’s blog.
The Worst Thing About Your Blog
Remember when starting a company newsletter was a great idea? Today, they are called blogs. In Bill Farquharson’s blog this week, he blogs about a blog mistake blog writers make in their blog.
Loose Lips Sink Sales
A prospect asks, “What other companies do you work with?” You are tempted to name some names, but before you do, you’d be wise to read Bill Farquharson’s blog.
The Blessing and Curse of Sales ADD
Imagine someone tapping a finger on your head all day, all the while speaking to you in a low tone. That’s ADD. Now, imagine harness that into a sales superpower. It is possible. Learn how in Bill Farquharson’s blog.
Bad Guitar and the New Sales Rep
You are not a natural-born sales rep. Bill Farquharson is not a natural-born musician. His secret to success on a guitar is the same as yours in sales, and it the subject of his blog this week.
How One Intro Email Resulted in a Phone Call
Bill Farquharson sent an email to a prospect. The prospect called Bill right away. How did that happen? It has to do with something at the bottom of the email; something you can read about in this week’s blog.
How to Get a Vendor to Jump Through Hoops
You are in a huge jam and need a vendor’s help. The difference between yes and no comes down to one business practice Bill Farquharson believes in, lives by, and writes about in his blog this week.
The Essence of Sales
He is not real. His best friend is a tiger only he can see. He lives in an imaginary world but he sees life with clarity. His name is Calvin. His tiger is Hobbes. And in this week’s blog, Bill Farquharson shows how he perfectly defined sales in one line.
Why Paper Matters
A certified coach skillfully uses digital options to market her business. But in the end, it’s a paper choice that did what digital could not and resulted in an astonishing 100% success rate. Learn more in Bill Farquharson’s blog.
How to Make LinkedIn Content Readable
LinkedIn posts build a brand, tell a story, establish credibility, and get the phone ringing. But, if no one reads them, what difference does it make? Bill Farquharson’s blog this week details a few lessons he has learned along the way, including one that will grab you immediately.
Hey Social Media People…Calm Down
Bill Farquharson is all for Google reviews and thinks it is fine to email and ask for one. But to then ask again, and again, AND AGAIN, well, do that and you will read about yourself in one of his blogs. Speaking of which…
Ideal With a Capital “I”
There are two levels of ideal customer: Lower case “i” and capital “I.” This blog is about the latter and why you should always be seeking this rare relationship. Find out what Bill Farquharson is talking about in this week’s blog.
When That Much is Too Much
When it comes to communicating delivery details with a customer, don’t make the mistakes Bill Farquharson’s dentist makes else your clients might take the action Bill is planning for his reminder-heavy tooth factory.
Wait! That’s a Good LinkedIn Post!
Where do the best ideas come from for good LinkedIn posts? Read Bill Farquharson’s blog to find out. It’s a good one!
A Healthy Sales Tip
One thing a day. Just one. That is all it takes to be healthy, wealthy, and wise as a sales rep. Don’t wait your entire sales career to learn the lesson in Bill Farquharson’s blog this week.
The Call-On-The-Top-Dog-Blog
Would you rather fight tooth and nail for an order or have it handed to you? Would you rather compete against 3 other vendors or be the chosen one? Would you rather wait for 5 people’s order approval or hear from one decision-maker? A recent news story exemplifies what Bill Farquharson has always believed: Call on the Top Dog.
Why Your Parents Are Geniuses
Small orders are frustrating. They take up a lot of time and don’t add up to much. But, if you apply a lesson from your childhood and listen to your parents, you might just find a small order to be a game-changer. Find out more from Bill Farquharson in this week’s blog.
An Assertive Sales Email
You’ve called and called. You’ve emailed and emailed. Nothing. Why not try something a bit more assertive? In his blog this week, Bill Farquharson offers an idea for a prospecting email that addresses your prospect’s question, “Why do I keep bugging you?”
Lazy New Business Selling
You’ve heard (and ignored) the advice regarding generating new business activity. It either goes in one ear and out the other, or you start to follow it but you don’t continue it. In this week’s blog, Bill Farquharson reminds you of the typical advice you’ve been given before, and then shares an activity to be done when all else fails.
A Little-Known LinkedIn Fail
Do you see the same people over and over again in your LinkedIn feed and wondered why that is? LinkedIn favors some members over others and its rule book both rewards and punishes. In his blog this week. Bill Farquharson shows you how to remove one factor that might be dragging you down.